Afghanistan Veterans Express Disbelief at President's Comments on War
By VoteVets.org
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Press Release
PUBLISHED: March 14, 2008
AFGHANISTAN VETERANS EXPRESS DISBELIEF AT PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ON WAR
Nothing "romantic" about it, say combat veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom
WASHINGTON - Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) expressed shock that the President believes the war is "romantic" and "exciting." (Source: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23373394-23109,00.html )
Below are just some of the reactions coming in to VoteVets.org, from those who served:
"We finally have empirical evidence proving that President Bush has absolutely no idea what war is all about. A Commander-in-Chief with such a child-like view of combat is in no way fit to lead America's Armed Forces during a time of conflict. Having served in eastern Afghanistan myself, I can assure you that there is nothing romantic about being decisively engaged with Taliban and al Qaeda elements for 15 months at a time. While President Bush thinks it would be a "fantastic experience" to fight in Afghanistan, it is anything but fantastic for our troops currently there. They are undermanned and under resourced because the war in Iraq--a war for which he is responsible.
If President Bush had any decency at all, he'd refocus our military efforts away from Iraq, so that we could once again take the fight to Osama bin Laden and those who attacked us on 9/11. Unlike the Commander-in-Chief, those of us in the military haven't forgotten our national priorities."
-BRANDON FRIEDMAN, OEF VETERAN (2001 AND 2002, ARMY)
"As a combat wounded veteran who served in Afghanistan, I have to disagree with the President's assertion that the war in Afghanistan is romantic. There was nothing romantic about having to dig through our trash during operation Anaconda because we ran out of food and were awaiting a resupply. As American soldiers always do, we accomplished the mission; but there was nothing romantic about it."
-BRIAN MCGOUGH, OEF VETERAN (2001-2002, ARMY)
"I didn't feel like there was anything romantic in not seeing my daughter grow up, in watching Afghan children starve to death, in explaining repeated deployment extensions to my soldiers, in explaining to Afghans that we were there to keep them safe - while knowing that we would never have enough troops to actually do so. No, Mr. President, there's nothing romantic about being sent on an important mission and not being given the tools to accomplish it."
-JIM MORIN, OEF VETERAN (2003, ARMY)
"President Bush is wrong. I seriously doubt any of us Infantryman in Operation Anaconda found it exciting or romantic when the Taliban and al Qaeda were firing mortar rounds at us and our fellow soldiers."
-WILL KING, OEF VETERAN, (2002, ARMY)
VoteVets.org is a pro-military organization committed to the destruction of terror networks around the world, with force when necessary. It represents the Voice of America's 21 Century Patriots - those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. It primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on behalf of troops, veterans and their families.
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Paid for VoteVets Political Action Committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. VoteVets Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization which primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on behalf veterans and their families. VoteVets Political Action Committee is a federal political committee which primarily helps elect Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran candidates and educates about veterans and military issues aimed at influencing the outcome of the next election.